Capacitor with conducting nanostructure

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a method including providing a substrate; forming a lower conductor over the substrate; forming a conducting nanostructure over the lower conductor; forming a thin dielectric over the conducting nanostructure; and forming an upper conductor over the thin dielectric. The present invention further discloses a device including a substrate; a lower conductor located over the substrate; a conducting nanostructure located over the lower conductor; a thin dielectric located over the conducting nanostructure; and an upper conductor located over the thin dielectric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integratedcircuit (IC) manufacturing, and more specifically, to a device withultra-high capacitance and a method of forming such a device on asubstrate.

2. Discussion of Related Art

A capacitor is a passive device that includes a dielectric layersandwiched between two conducting layers which serve as the bottomelectrode and the top electrode. The dielectric layer may be formed fromSilicon Oxide (SiO₂) with a dielectric constant, k, value of about 4.5.When a capacitor is formed on a substrate that includes other devicesfabricated with silicon processing, both the bottom electrode and thetop electrode may be formed from polysilicon. The resulting structure onthe substrate is called a silicon-insulator-silicon (SIS) capacitor.

In some cases, the top electrode of the capacitor may be formed frommetal while the bottom electrode of the capacitor may be formed frompolysilicon. The resulting structure on the substrate is called ametal-insulator-silicon (MIS) capacitor.

In other cases, both electrodes of the capacitor may be formed frommetal. The resulting structure on the substrate is called ametal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor.

The space occupied on the substrate by the capacitor may have to bereduced when other devices that are fabricated with advanced designrules are also located on the same substrate. Then, the capacitancedensity must be increased in order to maintain the same capacitance.Capacitance density may be increased by reducing the thickness of thedielectric layer. However, tunneling current may become excessive if thedielectric layer is too thin.

Capacitance density may also be increased by selecting a material with ahigher k value for the dielectric layer. However, when the capacitor isfabricated on the substrate with other devices, the high-k material usedfor the dielectric layer may not be compatible with the processing ofthe other devices. For example, when the processing temperature iselevated, diffusion and reaction may affect the stoichiometry or phaseof the high-k material.

Capacitance density may also be increased by increasing the surface areaat an interface between the dielectric layer and the electrode. Thesurface area at the interface may be increased by roughening the surfaceof the electrode. When an electrode is formed from polysilicon, thesurface of the electrode may be increased by forming larger grains inthe polysilicon. Such films are called hemispherical silicon grain (HSG)or rough surface polysilicon (RSP). However, the grains may continue togrow during thermal processing of the substrate after formation of thedielectric layer, thus changing the resistivity of the electrode.

Thus, what is needed is a device with ultra-high capacitance and amethod of forming such a device on a substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustration of an embodiment of a method of increasingcapacitance density by using a conducting nanostructure according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 1B is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of an embodiment ofa device with ultra-high capacitance based on a conducting nanostructureaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of an embodiment of a method of increasingcapacitance density by using an insulating nanostructure according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2B is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of an embodiment ofa device with ultra-high capacitance based on an insulatingnanostructure according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following description, numerous details, such as specificmaterials, dimensions, and processes, are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. However, one skilledin the art will realize that the invention may be practiced withoutthese particular details. In other instances, well-known semiconductorequipment and processes have not been described in particular detail soas to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The present invention describes a method of increasing capacitancedensity by using nanostructures to increase surface area and decreasethickness. The present invention also describes a device with ultra-highcapacitance based on nanostructures that may be conducting orinsulating.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the device may be used as astorage capacitor in a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cell. Even ascell size is scaled down, the storage capacitor for a DRAM cell in eachgeneration is usually formed as a three-dimensional structure to producea storage capacitance of about 25-70 femtoFarad per cell (fF/cell).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the device may be usedas an on-chip decoupling capacitor for logic circuits, such as amicroprocessor, to reduce noise, especially at high frequencies.

In still another embodiment, the device may be part of a field effecttransistor (FET). Gate capacitance, which is a function of gate voltage,may be about 140 picoFarads (pF) in some cases.

A first embodiment of a flow diagram illustrating a method of increasingcapacitance density according to the present invention is shown in FIG.1A. An embodiment of the method starts at 1095 by forming a lowerinsulator on a substrate with a process, such as physical vapordeposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or spin-on.

An embodiment of the method continues at 1100 by forming a lowerconductor with a process, such as PVD, CVD, or electroplating. The lowerconductor may serve as the lower electrode of a capacitor.

When the lower conductor is formed from polysilicon, conductivity may beincreased by ion implanting or in-situ doping. When the lower conductoris formed from a metal or an alloy, conductivity may be increased byannealing to form a desired grain size. The metal or alloy may also bedoped to improve its properties or characteristics.

When the lower conductor is formed from a metal or an alloy thatincludes Copper, a diffusion barrier layer may be formed to encapsulatethe Copper. The barrier layer may be formed with ionized PVD (I-PVD), ormetal-organic CVD (MOCVD).

When the lower conductor is to be formed by electroplating, a conductingseed layer may be formed to serve as a base for electroplating. The seedlayer may be formed from the same or different material as the lowerconductor to be formed later. The seed layer may be formed by I-PVD,CVD, atomic layer deposition (ALD), or electroless plating.

As desired, the lower conductor may be patterned with a combination of aphotolithography process and an etch process. The photolithographyprocess forms a mask for etch by applying a radiation-sensitivematerial, such as a photoresist, over the lower conductor to bepatterned; exposing the photoresist to radiation of the appropriatewavelength and dose that has been modulated by a reticle; and developingan opening in the photoresist that corresponds to a feature on thereticle. The etch process may include dry etching to transfer theopening from the mask formed in the photoresist into the underlyinglower conductor. The mask formed from the photoresist is removed afteretching the underlying lower conductor.

An embodiment of the method continues at 1200 by forming a conductingnanostructure over the lower conductor. A conducting nanostructure maybe formed in various ways. The choice of a suitable fabricationtechnique may depend on compatibility with other devices that arefabricated on the same substrate. The fabrication conditions maydetermine the shape, structure, and size of the conductingnanostructure. The fabrication conditions may also determine thelocation and orientation of the conducting nanostructure on the lowerconductor.

In one embodiment, the conducting nanostructure may be formed with anelectrostatic self-assembly technique. In another embodiment, theconducting nanostructure may be formed with an ionic self-assemblytechnique.

In still another embodiment, the conducting nanostructure may be formedwith a chemical self-assembly technique. Polymer chemistry may be usedto assemble the nanostructures into a highly-regular array. In oneembodiment, two copolymers may be applied while in a liquid state. Thesurface tension of the liquid may depend on the molecular weight of thepolymers. An external electric field may be applied to align thelong-chain molecules in the liquid into vertical columns. Thetemperature may then be lowered sufficiently to harden the film, afterwhich one component may be removed by etching, leaving an array of holesthat may be filled, such as by electroplating.

In still another embodiment, the conducting nanostructure may be formedwith a nano-imprint technique. In one embodiment, a polymer material maybe stamped with a relief mold. The mold may be built by rastering anelectron beam using direct-write e-beam equipment.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the conductingnanostructure may be formed by using an electron-beam evaporationsource, a low-energy electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma,molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), laser abation, vapor liquid solid (VLS)crystal growth, or arc discharge.

The conducting nanostructure should only be located in certain desiredlocations, such as over the lower conductor. In general, a subtractiveor an additive process may be used to determine the placement of theconducting nanostructure.

In one embodiment, a subtractive process may be used to form and placethe conducting nanostructure. First, the conducting nanostructure isformed non-selectively over the lower conductor using a suitable method.In one embodiment, the conducting nanostructure may be formed byself-assembly, whether electrostatic, ionic, or chemical. In anotherembodiment, the conducting nanostructure may be formed by CVD. Then, acombination of a lithography process and an etch process, analogous tothe method discussed previously for patterning the lower conductor, maybe used to remove the conducting nanostructure from the undesiredlocations, thus leaving the conducting nanostructure only in certaindesired locations, such as over the lower conductor.

In another embodiment, an additive process may be used to form and placethe conducting nanostructure. First, a material may be formednon-selectively over the lower conductor using a suitable method. In oneembodiment, the material may include a catalyst, such as Nickel (Ni) orIron (Fe). Then, a combination of a lithography process and an etchprocess, analogous to the method discussed previously for patterning thelower conductor, may be used to remove the catalyst from the undesiredlocations, thus leaving the catalyst only in certain desired locations,such as over the lower conductor. Finally, the conducting nanostructureis formed selectively over the catalyst in the desired locations. In oneembodiment, the conducting nanostructure may be formed by CVD.

An embodiment of the method continues at 1235 by forming a thindielectric over the conducting nanostructure. Good film thicknessuniformity and good conformality are desired. In most cases, aparticular stoichiometry of the chemical elements forming the thindielectric is desired. In certain cases, a particular structure for thethin dielectric is also desired.

In a first embodiment, the thin dielectric may be formed at 1235 with aCVD process at a temperature selected from a range of about 350-700degrees Centigrade. In one embodiment, a higher conformality of the thindielectric over the conducting nanostructure may be obtained when theprecursor incorporation in the CVD process is limited by the reactionrate at the surface of the conducting nanostructure rather than by masstransfer to or from the surface of the conducting nanostructure. Inanother embodiment, a higher conformality may be achieved when the CVDprocess is performed towards the lower end of the temperature range.

In a second embodiment, the thin dielectric may be formed at 1235 byusing ALD, which introduces precursor gases separately so as to form onemonolayer at a time by chemisorption over the conducting nanostructure.As a result, ALD may produce good film thickness uniformity and goodconformality, especially for a thickness of 10 nm or less. ALD may beperformed at a temperature selected from a range of about 200-400degrees Centigrade.

In a third embodiment, the thin dielectric may be formed at 1235 byusing an insulating nanostructure. The insulating nanostructure may beconnected or attached to the underlying conducting nanostructure eitherphysically or chemically. A physical attachment may involvephysisorption or van der Waal's forces while a chemical attachment mayinvolve chemisorption or covalent bonding. In one embodiment, aconducting nanostructure is first formed at 1200 over the lowerconductor. Then, the thin dielectric is formed at 1235 by attaching aninsulating nanostructure over the conducting nanostructure. In anotherembodiment (not shown), an insulating nanostructure is first attached toa conducting nanostructure to form a nanochain. Then, the nanochain isaligned so that the end with the conducting nanostructure may beattached to the lower conductor.

In a fourth embodiment, the thin dielectric may be formed at 1235 byusing MOCVD. A temperature may be selected for the MOCVD from a range ofabout 400-500 degrees Centigrade to achieve good step coverage. TheMOCVD may be followed by an anneal at a higher temperature selected froma range of about 600-900 degrees Centigrade to form the properstoichiometry and structure so that the desired high capacitance and lowleakage current may be obtained. The anneal may be oxidizing orreducing, depending on the material being used to form the thindielectric. Any temperature that may result in an undesired phase changefor the thin dielectric should be avoided.

In other embodiments, the thin dielectric may be formed at 1235 by usingother processes, such as sol-gel deposition, pulsed plasma sputtering,or ion beam deposition (IBD).

Forming the thin dielectric at 1235 may include patterning with aphotolithography process and an etch process, analogous to the methoddescribed previously for forming the lower conductor.

Another embodiment of the method continues at 1300 by forming an upperconductor with a process, such as PVD, CVD, or electroplating. The upperconductor may serve as the upper electrode of a capacitor. The same ordifferent techniques may be used to form the upper conductor at 1300 andthe lower conductor at 1100.

Another embodiment of the method continues at 1495 by forming an upperinsulator with a process, such as PVD, CVD, or spin-on. The same ordifferent techniques may be used to form the upper insulator at 1495 andthe lower conductor at 1095.

A first embodiment of a capacitor structure 10 on a substrate thatincludes a conducting nanostructure 200 to increase capacitance densityaccording to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1B.

The capacitor structure 10 may be located between a lower insulator 95and an upper insulator 495. The lower insulator 95 and the upperinsulator 495 may each have a thickness selected from a range of about0.1-2.0 microns (um). The lower insulator 95 and the upper insulator 495may include the same or different insulating materials. Insulatingmaterials may include Silicon Oxide (SiO₂), Fluorine-doped Oxide (SiOF),or Carbon-doped Oxide (CDO or SiOC). In one embodiment, the insulatingmaterial may have a dielectric constant, k, with a value of 3.0 orlower.

The capacitor structure 10 may include a lower conductor 100 and anupper conductor 300 as the electrodes. The lower conductor 100 and theupper conductor 300 may include the same or different conductingmaterials. In one embodiment, the conducting material may include dopedpolysilicon with a thickness selected from a range of about 0.05-0.40um. In another embodiment, the conducting material may include a metalor an alloy with a thickness selected from a range of about 0.30-2.50um. The metal or alloy may include Aluminum or Copper. A capacitorstructure with a metal or an alloy conductor may have a highercapacitance density than a capacitor structure with a polysiliconconductor.

A conducting material that includes Copper may require encapsulationwith a barrier layer to prevent diffusion of the Copper into othermaterials in the substrate on which the capacitor structure 10 islocated. The barrier layer may include a refractive metal, such asTantalum (Ta), or an alloy, such as Titanium-Tungsten (TiW), or aceramic, such as Tantalum-Nitride (TaN), Tantalum-Silicon-Nitride(TaSiN), Titanium-Nitride (TiN), Titanium-Silicon-Nitride (TiSiN), andTungsten-Nitride (WN). The barrier layer may have a thickness selectedfrom a range of about 8-50 nm. In one embodiment, the barrier layer mayinclude a bilayer with a total thickness selected from a range of about15-35 nm.

When a conductor is to be formed by electroplating, a seed layer may beneeded to serve as a base for electroplating. The seed layer and theconductors may include the same or different conducting materials. Theseed layer may have a thickness selected from a range of about 50-200nm.

When certain materials with high k value are used for the thindielectric 235, the lower conductor 100 and the upper conductor 300should be formed from materials that are either difficult to oxidize orthat form a conductive oxide so as to avoid reducing capacitancedensity. In one embodiment, the lower conductor 100 and the upperconductor 300 may include certain metals, such as Iridium (Ir), Platinum(Pt), and Ruthenium (Ru).

An embodiment of the capacitor structure 10 according to the presentinvention may include a conducting nanostructure 200 located over thelower conductor 100. The conducting nanostructure 200 increases thesurface area between the underlying lower conductor 100 and an overlyingthin dielectric 235 of the capacitor structure 10. The conductingnanostructure 200 also increases the surface area between the thindielectric 235 and the upper conductor 300 of the capacitor structure10.

The conducting nanostructure 200 should possess high purity and uniformproperties. The conducting nanostructure 200 should have few defectssince defects may degrade electrical, as well as thermal and mechanical,properties. Important properties of the conducting nanostructure 200 mayinclude electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and structuralstrength.

The conducting nanostructure 200 may include a variety of shapes, suchas cylindrical, conical, tapered, hemispherical, spherical, andpolygonal. The conducting nanostructure 200 may possess symmetry withrespect to certain axes.

In one embodiment, the conducting nanostructure 200 may have a shaperesembling a soccer ball with a lattice formed primarily from six-foldrings (hexagonal structure), with occasional five-fold rings andseven-fold rings. The lattice usually includes an even number of Carbonatoms, such as C20, C36, or C60 (Buckyball).

In another embodiment, the conducting nanostructure 200 may have a shapethat resembles a pillar, a wire, or a ribbon. The conductingnanostructure 200 may have a shorter dimension and a longer dimension.The aspect ratio (shorter dimension:longer dimension) of the conductingnanostructure 200 may range from about 1:1 to about 1:300. In oneembodiment, the aspect ratio may be about 1:30 to about 1:60.

The shorter dimension may include a width or a diameter. The conductingnanostructure 200 may be uniform or variable in the shorter dimension. Ananotube (NT) and a nanowire (NW) may have a uniform, cylindricalcross-section while a nanobelt may have a uniform, rectangularcross-section.

In the shorter dimension, some embodiments of the conductingnanostructure 200, such as a nanowire, a nanobelt, or a nanochain, mayhave a solid core. Another embodiment of the conducting nanostructure200, such as a nanotube, may have a hollow core. The hollow core of theconducting nanostructure 200 may serve as a capillary, mold, ortemplate. In one embodiment, the conducting nanostructure 200 mayinclude an insulating nanostructure with a hollow core that has beenfilled with a conducting material.

A nanotube may be a single-walled nanotube (SWNT). The SWNT resembles aflat sheet that has been rolled up into a seamless cylinder. As desired,the wall thickness of the SWNT may be increased to enhance themechanical strength and the rigidity of the SWNT. In one embodiment, theSWNT may have a wall thickness of about 6 nm and a shorter dimension ofabout 50 nm. In another embodiment, the SWNT may have a wall thicknessof about 16 nm and a shorter dimension of about 230 nm.

A nanotube may also be a multi-walled nanotube (MWNT). The MWNTresembles stacked sheets that have been rolled up into seamlesscylinders. In one embodiment, the MWNT may resemble 10-12 SWNTs thathave been nested concentrically, one inside another. The parallel sheetsincrease electrical conductivity of the MWNT.

The longer dimension may include a length. The conducting nanostructure200 may be uniform or variable in the longer dimension. The conductingnanostructure 200 may be straight, bent, or winding in the longerdimension. The conducting nanostructure 200 may include a segmentednanochain that alternates between portions with a larger cross-sectionresembling globules and other portions with a smaller cross-sectionresembling stems.

The conducting nanostructure 200 may include a range of sizes, such asabout 0.3-1,000 nm in the shorter dimension and about 30-50,000 nm inthe longer dimension. In one embodiment, the conducting nanostructure200 may be about 5-15 nm in the shorter dimension and about 1,000-4,500nm in the longer dimension. In another embodiment, the conductingnanostructure 200 may be about 230 nm in the shorter dimension and about12,000 nm in the longer dimension. In still another embodiment, theconducting nanostructure 200 may be about 530 nm in the shorterdimension and about 20,000 nm in the longer dimension.

The conducting nanostructure 200 located over the lower conductor 100may be arranged discretely or clustered into a nanorope. The originalshape and structure of the conducting nanostructure 200 may be bent ordistorted by other nearby conducting nanostructures.

In one embodiment, the conducting nanostructure 200 may be part of adiscontinuous layer over the lower conductor 100, such that portions ofthe thin dielectric 235 may be in contact with the lower conductor 100.In another embodiment, the conducting nanostructure 200 may be part of acontinuous layer over the lower conductor 100, such that the thindielectric 235 is not in contact with the lower conductor 100 (notshown). In still another embodiment, the conducting nanostructure 200may be part of a continuous layer with sufficient thickness to carrydesired current so that the lower conductor 100 may not be needed (notshown).

The conducting nanostructure 200 located over the lower conductor 100may be part of a highly irregular, random mixture or part of a highlyregular, systematic array. In one embodiment, the longer dimension ofthe conducting nanostructure 200 is predominantly oriented to beessentially perpendicular to a surface of the lower conductor 100. Inanother embodiment, the longer dimension of the conducting nanostructure200 is predominantly oriented to be essentially parallel to the surfaceof the lower conductor 100. The orientation of the conductingnanostructure 200 may affect the spacing between the lower conductor 100and the upper conductor 235 in the capacitor structure 10.

A conducting nanostructure 200 may be formed from certain conductingmetals, such as Iridium (Ir), Platinum (Pt), Ruthenium (Ru), and theirconducting oxides. Cobalt (Co) and Gallium (Ga) are also conductingmetals.

The graphite form of Carbon is a semimetal that possesses propertiesbetween a metal and a semiconductor. In one embodiment, doping with analkali metal may affect the resistivity of a carbon nanostructure andchange it from insulating to conducting to superconducting. In general,whether a Carbon nanotube is conducting or semiconducting depends on thechirality of the nanotube. Chirality is the twist in the sheet formingthe wall of the nanotube. The barrier height, or band gap, depends onthe chirality and the diameter of the nanotube. In one embodiment, theband gap is zero so the nanotube is metallic and conducting. In anotherembodiment, the band gap may be 0.3 electron volt (eV) for a nanotubewith a twist angle of 12 degrees per nanometer of longer dimension. Inother embodiments, the band gap may be about 1.0-2.0 eV for a nanotubewith a larger twist angle.

The capacitor structure 10 may include a thin dielectric 235 locatedover the conducting nanostructure 200. The thin dielectric 235 must bethick enough to keep the electric field below the breakdown limit.Otherwise, problems may arise with respect to dielectric integrity,reliability, and leakage. In one embodiment, the thin dielectric 235 mayhave a thickness of about 8-90 nm. In another embodiment, the thindielectric 235 may have a thickness of about 0.5-8 nm.

The thin dielectric 235 should have good film thickness uniformity andgood conformality over the conducting nanostructure 200. The thindielectric 235 may include materials, such as Silicon Nitride, with a kvalue of about 6.5, oxidized Nitride (ON), and oxidized Nitride/Oxide(ONO).

Other materials with higher k value may be used to increase capacitancedensity. In one embodiment, the thin dielectric 235 may include a binaryceramic oxide, such as Aluminum Oxide (Al₂O₃), with a k value of about9, Tantalum Pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), with a k value of about 20-30, TitaniumOxide (TiO₂), Hafnium Oxide (HfO₂), and Zirconium Oxide (ZrO₂).

Some quaternary Silicates, such as Nitridated Hafnium Silicate (HfSiON)with a k value of 12-14, and some quaternary Aluminates, such asSilicon-doped Zirconium Aluminate (ZrAlSiO), may also be used.

A material with a Perovskite structure, such as Barium StrontiumTitanate (Ba_(x)Sr_(1-x)TiO₃ or BST), may have a very high k value of200-500 due to strong ionic polarization. However, Perovskite materialsare ternary and quaternary compounds so k value will be very sensitiveto the composition.

A barrier layer may be needed to prevent the high k value material fromreacting at an interface with Oxygen or another material. Some barrierlayers that may be used include Silicon Nitride at a polysiliconinterface and Titanium Nitride (TiN) at a metal interface. However, abarrier layer may affect the equivalent k value and the equivalentthickness of the dielectric stack, thus reducing and degradingcapacitance density.

In one embodiment, the thin dielectric 235 that is located over theconducting nanostructure 200 may include an insulating nanostructure.The insulating nanostructure may be connected or attached to theunderlying conducting nanostructure either physically or chemically. Aphysical attachment may involve physisorption or van der Waal's forceswhile a chemical attachment may involve chemisorption or covalentbonding.

In another embodiment, an array of nanochains is located between thelower conductor 100 and the upper conductor 300. Each nanochain includesan insulating nanostructure 235 attached to a conducting nanostructure200. Each nanochain is oriented such that the end with the conductingnanostructure 200 may be attached to the underlying lower conductor 100while the end with the insulating nanostructure 235 may be attached tothe overlying upper conductor 300.

A second embodiment of a flow diagram illustrating a method ofincreasing capacitance density according to the present invention isshown in FIG. 2A. An embodiment of the method includes forming a lowerinsulator at 2095, forming an insulating nanostructure at 2215, forminga thin conductor at 2230, forming a thin dielectric at 2235, forming anupper conductor at 2300, and forming an upper insulator at 2495. Theinsulating nanostructure formed at 2215 may be formed analogously tomany of the methods described previously to form a conductingnanostructure.

A second embodiment of a capacitor structure 20 on a substrate thatincludes an insulating nanostructure 215 to increase capacitance densityaccording to the present invention is shown in FIG. 2B.

An embodiment of the capacitor structure 20 is located between a lowerinsulator 95 and an upper insulator 495. The capacitor structure 20includes a thin conductor 230 and an upper conductor 300 as theelectrodes.

An embodiment of the capacitor structure 20 includes an insulatingnanostructure 215 to increase the surface area between the thinconductor 230 and the thin dielectric 235 of the capacitor structure 20.The insulating nanostructure 215 also increases the surface area betweenthe thin dielectric 235 and the upper conductor 300 of the capacitorstructure 20.

The insulating nanostructure 215 should possess high purity and uniformproperties. The insulating nanostructure 215 should also have fewdefects since defects may degrade electrical, as well as thermal andmechanical, properties. Important properties of the insulatingnanostructure 215 may include electrical conductivity, thermalconductivity, and structural strength.

The insulating nanostructure 215 may include a variety of shapes, suchas cylindrical, conical, tapered, hemispherical, spherical, orpolygonal. The insulating nanostructure 215 may possess symmetry withrespect to certain axes.

In one embodiment, the insulating nanostructure 215 may include a shapethat resembles a pillar, a wire, or a ribbon. The insulatingnanostructure 215 may have a shorter dimension and a longer dimension.The aspect ratio (shorter dimension:longer dimension) of the insulatingnanostructure 215 may range from about 1:1 to about 1:300. In oneembodiment, the aspect ratio may be about 1:30 to about 1:60.

The shorter dimension may include a width or a diameter. In the shorterdimension, the insulating nanostructure 215 may be uniform or variablein different embodiments. In the shorter dimension, some embodiments ofthe insulating nanostructure 215 may have a solid core while otherembodiments may have a hollow core.

The longer dimension may include a length. In the longer dimension, theinsulating nanostructure 215 may be uniform or variable in differentembodiments. In the longer dimension, the insulating nanostructure 215may be straight, bent, or winding. In one embodiment, a nanochain may besegmented, alternating between some portions that are conducting andother portions that are insulating.

The insulating nanostructure 215 may include a range of sizes, such asabout 0.3-1,000 nm in the shorter dimension and about 30-50,000 nm inthe longer dimension.

In one embodiment, the insulating nanostructure 215 may be part of adiscontinuous layer over the lower insulator 95, such that portions ofthe thin conductor 230 may be in contact with the lower insulator 95. Inanother embodiment, the insulating nanostructure 215 may be part of acontinuous layer over the lower insulator 95, such that the thinconductor 230 is not in contact with the lower insulator 95 (not shown).

The insulating nanostructure 215, located over the lower insulator 95,may be loosely arranged as discrete insulating nanostructure 215 or theymay be tightly bundled into nanoropes. The orientation of the insulatingnanostructure 215 located over the lower insulator 95 may vary from ahighly regular, systematic array to a highly irregular, random mixture.

In one embodiment, the longer dimension of the insulating nanostructure215 is predominantly oriented to be essentially perpendicular to thesurface of the lower insulator 95. In another embodiment, the longerdimension of the insulating nanostructure 215 is predominantly orientedto be essentially parallel to the surface of the lower insulator 95. Theoriginal shape and structure of the insulating nanostructure 215 may bebent or distorted by its own weight or by the weight of other nearbyinsulating nanostructures.

Many embodiments and numerous details have been set forth above in orderto provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Oneskilled in the art will appreciate that many of the features in oneembodiment are equally applicable to other embodiments. One skilled inthe art will also appreciate the ability to make various equivalentsubstitutions for those specific materials, processes, dimensions,concentrations, etc. described herein. It is to be understood that thedetailed description of the present invention should be taken asillustrative and not limiting, wherein the scope of the presentinvention should be determined by the claims that follow.

Thus, we have described a device with ultra-high capacitance and amethod of forming such a device on a substrate.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A device comprising: a substrate; a lower insulatordisposed over said substrate; a lower conductor disposed over said lowerinsulator; a conducting nanostructure disposed over said lowerconductor, said conducting nanostructure being discontinuous; a thindielectric disposed over said conducting nanostructure, said thindielectric being conformal over said conducting nanostructure and saidlower conductor; an upper conductor disposed over said thin dielectric;and an upper insulator disposed over said upper conductor.
 8. The deviceof claim 7 wherein said thin dielectric comprises an insulatingnanostructure.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein said conductingnanostructure and said insulating nanostructure are attached in ananochain.
 10. The device of claim 7 wherein said thin dielectriccomprises a high k value material.
 11. The device of claim 7 whereinsaid conducting nanostructure comprises a Carbon nanotube.
 12. Thedevice of claim 7 wherein said upper conductor comprises a material thatis either difficult to oxidize or else forms a conductive oxide. 13-21.(canceled)